It's not about Forehands and Backhands, Stupid! [Redux]

Yes, Karsten Braasch was ridiculously good given his unorthodox shots. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't pursue "clean" strokes; just don't become consumed by this quest. At some point, "it is what it is" and you're just going to have to figure out the best way to win. 

Or how about Monica Niculescu? Not bad for WTA top 30. Before you judge, please check out her preparation, intensity and movement. If it helps to avoid the distraction, cover the top of the video and just focus on her feet. How many of you who would like to play D-1 can move like that?!

Go Forth and Let The Children Be Your Guide

Great movement, intensity, passion and focus (eyes) coupled with clean strokes for her age. You don't have to watch pros to learn proper fundamentals; watch this girl. Awesome! Keep up the good work and good luck, Solana. 

As The Wind Blows

Given that California is currently experiencing some massive windstorms, we thought that we would provide you with some tips for playing tennis in the wind or using it to your advantage:

1. Since drilling in the wind is frustrating, windy conditions are great for playing points. Therefore, rather than performing repetition-type drills, find someone to play sets against and use it to get better.

2. Wind requires even better footwork than usual. The ball tends to swirl around until the very last second so it's important for you to constantly strive to position yourself for the optimal shot. 

3. This may be obvious, but try not to aim for the lines (or even inside the lines). If you aim for the lines and the ball is moved by the wind in a ten foot radius, there is a great likelihood that you're going to miss. Instead, aim for the middle of the court and have the wind move the ball for you. That same 10ft radius will be inside the lines.

4. Even if it's not natural for you, try to approach the net (either serve and volley, chip and charge or off a ground-stroke). It's difficult to be precise in the wind so your opponents will have a more difficult time trying to pass you. On the other hand, you will be better positioned to knock balls down into the opponent's court and, therefore, not be affected by the conditions. 

5. Use slices for two major reasons: (A) your opponent will have to bend her knees and move her feet even more than usual increasing the chances that she will miss (hitting a skidding ball is hard enough under normal conditions); and (B) slices (well-struck ones, anyway) tend to not have such a high arc when crossing the net - therefore, the wind will not have the opportunity to affect such shots. As always, however, don't attempt this shot for the first time in a match and under windy conditions. Practice, practice, practice beforehand. 

6. Not aiming for the lines is not just for groundstrokes but also for the serve. The kick-serve and slice serve are probably your best bet under these conditions. First of all, determine which one of your serves requires a lower toss - that should be your "A" serve. As above, a lower toss has less chance of being affected by the wind. Once you figure out this aspect, make just slight adjustments to vary the intended target - the wind will take care of the rest (the ball will "sail" with the direction of the wind). For example, slice/kick down the T, middle of the court, or out wide. Sometimes, it also helps to be sneaky - by not putting a lot of pace/spin on the ball, the wind will play with it, making it swirl and, consequently, difficult and frustrating to return. When hitting serves against the wind, we have found that a slice serve tends to penetrate better than a kick or flat serve. When the wind is behind you, try to kick the serve more so that the ball explodes on your opponent and he has trouble generating pace from above his shoulders. 

7. If you know that your opponent has trouble with "dinkers" under normal conditions, these problems will be magnified by the wind. Don't rip the ball with a lot of spin (since such shots will penetrate the wind and will be easier to handle); use only enough pace and spin to maintain proper ball control. Give your opponent a wobbly ball to hit against and allow him to self-destruct. 

8. Remember the "10 and under play" or the sneak-attack. This is where you lob a high-topspin ball and, while your opponent is backing up and trying to figure out how to best handle it, you sneak in (wind may drown out your footsteps) and knock your opponent's shot out of the air. It works once in a while, particularly against some inexperienced players who back up for every ball. 

9. Keep tabs of the shift in wind; check out the swaying of the trees, blowing of the dust, or puffing of the net or windscreens. Remember to make proper adjustments when changing sides. If, on one side, you're facing the wind, chances are that you will be over-hitting when you change ends. Therefore, remember to add more spin. Conversely, when you change from side where the wind was behind you to one where it is in front, add more pace.

In addition, if the court has a drainage "tilt" (which can either be side-to-side or end-to-end, depending on the set-up of the facility), it may be exacerbated by the wind; see if you can use it to your advantage by sliding the ball with the wind into the low part of the court and having your opponent get even more out of position. 

10. Wind may be beautiful for sailing but when it comes to tennis it's all ugly. Therefore, expect to play ugly and win ugly. Under these conditions, it's all about getting the job done, not making the highlight reel. 

Tennis Hold'Em

If the Ace of Spades is the only card you need, this article may be for you:

1. Bankroll: How much money should I invest? In tennis: If you are in it for pleasure, or just looking to have fun, don't invest any more than is fun to lose. If you're planning on making a career out of it, a more powerful bankroll may be more suitable. 

2. Blinds: Forced bets. In tennis: These are the costs associated with tennis including: lessons; entry fees; equipment; travel; etc. Parents are often blind [chuckle-chuckle] as to these hidden costs which may add up over the course of development. 

3. Draw: hoping to improve your hand with the cards that will come on the board. In tennis: hoping to improve your ranking with an easy draw. 

4. Limit Poker: a game with fixed-size bets. In tennis: amateurism restrictions (can't take more than expenses). 

6. Outs: Cards that can improve your hand. In tennis: an error by the opponent that can improve your chances of winning. 

7. Pot Odds: The odds you are getting when you are drawing. In tennis: the odds of "making it" when you're first starting out (bad news: you are closer to ZERO). 

8. Beginner Mistakes:

A. Playing too many hands. In tennis: playing too many tournaments; being involved in too many activities. 

B. Playing above your bankroll. In tennis: spending above and beyond the level of comfort so as to cause internal stress and undesired pressures. Understand your level of comfort from the get-go and know when you've reached it and what you'll be willing to do going forward. 

C. Becoming too emotional at the table. In tennis: Bad matches will happen. Losing is part of the game. Annoying opponents will have to be faced. Do not let your emotions sway your judgment. 

D. Imitating other players. In tennis: trying to follow the pack in terms of chasing points, playing specific tournaments, joining this clinic or that, cherry-picking coaches or picking up negative attitudes ("just because so-and-so is doing it")

E. Overvaluing suited hands. In tennis: overqualifying yourself and underqualifying your opponents. Expect your opponent to improve every day. Work hard even if you're the best (or think you're the best). Even if you have the best hand (strokes) don't discount physical and mental toughness of the opponent which may TRUMP your hand. 

F. Failing to keep your ego in check. In tennis: don't be naive and think you can be a guaranteed winner. Know when to walk away from a losing hand or a sport that's going nowhere. This is particularly important for parents. If you want it more for your kids than they do, then it's better to FOLD before you BUST. Don't stay in the game just because you've already spent $X, have a closet full of tennis clothes, a garage full of rackets and are hoping for a miracle. Identify losing hands (i.e., kids who simply don't want to pursue tennis and are not passionate about it) and walk away. Focus your energies elsewhere; it's really OK to not be a tennis player. 

G. Banking on luck. In the long run, luck evens out; only skill remains as a deciding factor. "Edge" is the slight advantage one player has over another through more skill, larger stack or better position. In tennis: banking on short-cuts will be a loser; hard work is the only short-cut; try to improve your skill every day through focused practices. Don't bank on one good win and ignore your 100 bad losses. You're only as good as your worst loss. 

H. Publicizing tells (mannerisms that reveal the true strength of a player's hand). In tennis: allowing emotions to send signals to your opponent regarding your level of comfort. 

I. Losing focus. In tennis: allowing points to slip away for no reason; failing to work hard every day. As the expression goes: "if I don't practice one day, I know it; if I don't practice two days, the orchestra knows it; if I don't practice three days, the whole world knows it." 

J. Becoming fixated on the charts. In tennis: focusing on rankings and draws

9. Skills:

A. Discipline (if you want to be good, you have to approach it like a job...a fun job but a job nonetheless) 

B. Mental Toughness (both endeavors are about winning and bouncing back from losses)

C. Understanding Risk v. Rewards (understand what it takes to get somewhere, what you get when you get there and lost opportunity costs)

D. Ability to Think For yourself (don't follow the herd)

E. Ability to Grind (Doyle Brunson: “Limit [Texas] Hold 'em is like a job – the more hours you work, the more money you’ll make”)

F. Patience (looking at the long-term aspects of the game)

G. Observation (watching other players, learning and reading their strategies, likes/dislikes)

H. Knowing when to play and when to quit (see 8F, above)

I. Adaptability (knowing when to be aggressive and when to be defensive)

J. Ability to avoid being predicatable

K. Bluffing (sending out signals of confidence in order to make the other player nervous). As Buddha said: "your greatest weapon is in your opponent's mind."

10. Objectives:

A. Maximize Winning and Minimize Losses

B. Having Fun

Returning Against a Serve and Volleyer

Not many players favor the serve-and-volley game style in the modern game of tennis. Accordingly, facing such a player can be very frustrating sometimes unless you have a great deal of experience under your belt. Here are some things to keep in mind when facing a net rusher:

1. Make him volley. This may seem like routine advice, but that's not quite the case. A S-V player provokes the following unconscious thoughts in your mind: A) he's coming in; B) he's coming in because he likes it; C) if he likes it, he must be good at it; and D) if he's good at it, I better keep the ball away from him. This is exactly the way the net rusher wants you to think; he wants to tempt you to go for the low percentage passing shot off his major weapon. It's hard enough to pass someone who is coming in off a ground stroke! Why would you try to do this off a serve?! Therefore, a better tactic would be to make the player volley and see what tools he has on his belt. Maybe it's all just a bluff! You will never know unless you test him. 

2. Your point of recovery following the return should be inside the baseline. The good serve a volleyers will attempt to combine good serves with sharp angles. For them, this guarantees that the returner has the most ground to cover. Therefore, returning and then recovering deep behind the baseline's center-T plays right into their hand. You want to recover in an aggressive position in order to ensure that you are as close to the next shot as possible. Force them to aim their volleys deep - not only may this draw errors but it will also reduce the angles that they can create. 

3. Don't forget about the chip return (NOT a slice). Depending on how solid your chip return is (if it's not, try to improve it), a chip return may give you a better option if you're unsure of your opponent's tendencies. For one, the chip requires little or no back-swing (you're utilizing the opponent's pace and only redirecting the shot) so you can make the decision on where to hit and how deep much later (in terms of tennis-time). Also, the chip requires a continental grip so if you have a one-handed backhand, it's easier to transition from the forehand grip (Western or Semi-Western) to the chip (since you only have to go half-way). In addition, a chip has a completely different spin - something that the volleyer may have difficulty handling. A topspin ball dips into the volleyer's string-bed. A well-struck chip will "pop up" of his strings - thereby forcing the volleyer to make adjustments. Volleyers are more accustomed to volleying against a topsin than against a ball that spins the "other way". 

4. Stay close in. Similar to playing a big-bomber, it's important to stay closer to the court when returning and thereby position yourself so as to cut off the server's angles. Most likely, the serve and volleyer will attempt to come in off a spin serve (kick, topspin, or slice) in order to give himself more time to close in. If you stay back, you will allow him to take an extra couple of steps - at which point, it will be difficult to make him volley below the net (your goal is to make him pop up the volley as opposed to sticking it downwards). Stay close in, use the pace of his serve (even a kick-serve has sufficient pace for you to use and redirect) and seek to make the rusher volley behind the center-T or half-volley around the center-T.

The center-T should be your target in these instances. Pound it incessantly and force the volleyer to generate angles from the middle of the court; don't give him an opening (i.e. too far away from the middle but within reach) from which he can generate an angle. Unless he's very, very good, chances are that he will have difficulty handling these shots. The best return is, actually, slightly cross-court from your return position - this force the opponent to adjust the face the face of the racket and to generate a slight "inside-out" angle. For example, if you're returning from the deuce side down-the-line, the opponent can stick a cross-court backhand volley without much difficulty. Return cross-court, and he will have problems generating the same angle with his forehand volley down-the-line. 

5. Attack. Another oft-forgotten play is to come in yourself (chip-and-charge). This may work as a great surprise-tactic since the server expects to face an opponent who is staying deep. You have a slight advantage in these situations because out of the two players, you're the only one who knows what to expect. Depending on the serve, you may in fact "beat the player" to the net since, the ball would have reached your position a split second after the server's contact with the ball. Chip down the T (low), rush in and pounce on the opponent's next shot (particularly any pop-up floaters). Stun him once or twice and you will either force him to do more with his serves (resulting in more double faults or second serves; [DING-DING] BONUS) or his volleys (errors). If you're lucky, you might actually force him to stay back ([DING-DING] DOUBLE BONUS) and that's when you know that you have really rocked his boat.